Port Vale boss Neil Aspin says Chris Regis still has an opportunity to prove himself at Port Vale, and will start for the reserves at home to Walsall tomorrow (1pm).

However, the manager has reiterated that the midfielder has to improve his attitude if he is to get a chance in the first team.

He explained: “As I said on Saturday, Chris Regis has to earn the respect of the players and the management. If he does that then of course he will be considered for selection.

“He has the chance to play in the reserves tomorrow and will be starting. But his performances will dictate whether he gets into the squad.

“You have to deserve to be in the squad and he has to back his performances in the reserves by what he does in training. He can be lazy in training. He has a lot of good attributes but he has to realise that we have given him a chance and it is up to him to take it.

Read More

“I believe that everybody deserves to get a chance. The situation with Chris is he isn’t a bad lad or a disruptive influence, that’s not the issue. But he needs to be reminded of what he needs to do in the games. He needs to work harder, that’s for definite.”

Regis joined the Valiants on a free transfer in November after they were tipped off that Bolton wouldn’t be offering him a deal after training with them.

Port Vale midfielder Chris Regis

The 21 year old was a youth player at Arsenal, Crystal Palace and Southampton and has also been on the books at Colchester.

Read More

He said: “There will be no trialists but Donovan Wilson will play part of the game because I want to have a look at him again. I feel he will be an asset during his time here, but it is for no other reason than just giving him a little bit more game time.”

Aspin says the reserve game will give players the chance to impress ahead of Saturday’s League Two game at Accrington. The manager said the Vale were well below the standards he expects against Yeovil, but says it is unrealistic to think he has the strength in depth to make many changes to the first team.

Read More

He explained: “You will see with the (reserve) team, there are a couple of people who I want to have a look at. But we are not in a position where we are going to make wholesale changes. I think even if players are maybe not performing as well as they can, we are not in a position where we can make five or six changes in the one game.

“But I would like to think there are a couple of opportunities for people. They have to train well this week and show that they want to play on Saturday.”